Public Life
Campbell's only formal political service was as a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829, which brought him into contact with some of the leading politicians of the day and gave him the opportunity to preach in several Richmond churches.
In 1840, Campbell founded Bethany College in Bethany, Virginia (now Bethany, West Virginia), which educated many leaders of the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ.
He visited the United Kingdom in 1847. During the trip he gave public lectures in England and Scotland, and also delivered funds that U.S. churches associated with the Restoration Movement had raised for famine relief in Ireland. While at Glasgow he was challenged by James Robertson to a debate on the subject of slavery. The rhetoric surrounded the challenge resulted in James Robertson suing Campbell for libel; Campbell denied the charge. He was arrested and imprisoned for ten days. Campbell was released when the warrant for his arrest was declared to be illegal, and ultimately a verdict was given in his favor.
Read more about this topic: Alexander Campbell (clergyman)
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